35 races have led to today, and 4 drivers aim to become the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion. This is the moment they have dreamed of their whole lives, and for one of them, that dream will be a reality. Who will it be?

Kyle Larson

This year, the 2021 Cup champion is in his 2nd final 4 appearance and a lot consider him a favorite. Yes, he is one of the 75 best NASCAR drivers, in a 3-way tie for most top 5s, leading the most laps of anyone entering this race, but he has been very inconsistent. In the 35 races to this point, he has had 8 DNFs. That is a big number. In almost 1 of every 4 races, he does not finish. All of them have been crash related. There are several races this year that he was involved in a wreck that he did finish in. While some were not his fault, like in Dover, where a lapped car got spun right in front of him and had nowhere to go. Or at the first Talladega race where he had rotten superspeedway luck. But there have been races like Charlotte in the Coke 600, Texas, Homestead, where he pushed too hard and made mistakes. Still, he is hyped like he is one to beat, and he is the only driver that has been a Cup champion before, so can he keep his car out of the wall to a 2nd championship?

Christopher Bell

The only other driver that has had a previous championship 4 appearance was the 20 of Christopher Bell. Early on this year, most thought he would easily make it to this point. But in the middle of the season saw a lot of mistakes on the whole team. From the driver wrecking from pushing too hard to the pit crew making mistakes. As a matter of fact, Bell's original pit crew was switched out with Ty Gibbs's pit crew for the playoffs, and early on in round 1, it looked like it was the same deal in the regular season. Keep in mind Ty's original pit crew ranked top 5. But as the playoffs progressed the 20 advanced to the round of 8 and after it looked like he missed his chance to win at Vegas AND missed the handle on his car at Homestead that he would get eliminated. But like last year, Bell and the 20 team came in clutch and won. Last year a freak accident on the last pitstop cost Bell a shot at the championship. Can they go into today and get redemption?

Ryan Blaney

At the start of the season, Blaney was riding a little but of a winless streak, and now he could be on the brink of a championship. After an emotional win at the Coca-Cola 600, Ryan Blaney  had a difficult summer. Team Penske looked to be invisible and an early exit. But like teammate Logono getting hot at the right time. After winning at Talladega, most were surprised that the 12 car advanced to the round of 8. Now, after a strong round, he is in his first ever championship 4. After years of anticipation of him becoming a superstar, can he become a Cup champion?

William Byron

The most successful driver has made it to the final 4. A breakout season for William Byron and the 24 car has never looked this good since Jeff Gordon drove it. Everything seems to be coming together even after some penalties for HMS .It looked like it might go wrong for the 24 at Martinsville, after an ill handling racecar. 8 points is what saved William's season. Luck is also something needed to win a championship. Early this season, HMS originally had been penalized 100 points and 10 playoff points for a louver infraction. After an appeal, Byron was able to  get his points back. Can William Byron be the 3rd Cup  champion out of Hendrick Motorsports in the last 4 years?

Championship pick: Ryan Blaney

Last year, Blaney was one of the best cars in the field, but finished 2nd. With the way that Blaney looked and Ford looked this year like they were behind. Then, RFK found speed, and it shifted over to Blaney. Joey Logono, who won his 2nd championship last year, was invisible. Then the round of 8 hit with a lot of speed, got to Phoenix, and won the championship. Before Phoenix, Homestead was the championship finale and known as Ford championship weekend. Ford could sweep it right here today.